MALLERY ON THE DAKOTA CALENDAR. 7 



allowed to " do it ". The internal evidence is to the same effect. All 

 the symbols indicate what was done, experienced, or observed by the 

 nation at large or by its tribes without distinction, not by that of 

 which Lone Dog is a member — no special feat of the Yanktonais, in- 

 deed, being mentioned — and the chiefs whose deaths or deeds are noted 

 appear to have belonged indifferently to the several tribes, whose vil- 

 lages were generally at great distances each from the others and from 

 that of the recorder. In estimating the weight of these facts, it seems 

 necessary to consider the numbers and divisions of the Dakotas, and 

 the extent of territory formerly and now occupied by them. 



In comparatively recent times, they held the whole immense region 

 bounded by the Rocky Mountains on the west, the Athabascan tribes in 

 British America on the north, and the present State of Arkansas on the 

 south, while, in the east, they extended beyond the Mississippi River, 

 pressing sometimes successfully upon the Algonquins. One division, gen- 

 erally known as Winnebago, but calling itself Hochengara, made a lodg. 

 ment on the shores of Lake Michigan, ruling there for years by numbers 

 and prowess in arms over several Algonquin tribes, and another body, 

 the Quappas, styled by the Algonquins, Alkansas, or Arkansas, pene- 

 trated to the Ohio River, but, being driven back by the Illinois, turned 

 down stream to the land included by the State of Arkansas, named after 

 them. By treaties in 1837, 1851, 1863, and 1868, the nation ceded to the 

 United States its land on the eastern side of the Missouri, and also the 

 region lying west of that river and north of the Platte, finally restricting 

 its claims to the limits bounded east by the Missouri River, south by Ne- 

 braska, west by the one hundred and fourth meridian, and north by the 

 forty-sixth parallel, with hunting rights in parts of Nebraska and Wy- 

 oming. This remaining territory is by no means despicable, being as 

 large as the State of Michigan. Many of the nation, however, promi- 

 nent among whom was Sitting Bull, who had been at war with the whites 

 ever since the Minnesota massacre of 1863, refused agreement to the 

 later treaties, or to reside at the agencies, and maintained independent 

 bauds, hunting and robbing, after the manner of their forefathers. While 

 the number of warriors permanently attached to the recusant faction was 

 not large, probably in the winters diminishing to a few hundred, the 

 force served ever^^ summer as a nucleus for the discouteoted or treach- 

 erous agency Indians to join, and thus there were sometimes from six to 

 ten thousand warriors in the so-called "hostile armies", which, however, 

 were not often concentrated. When restricted^to his personal followers, 

 Sitting Bull habitually honored Western Dakota and Eastern Montana 

 with his presence, moving his tepees and travois about in the valleys of the 

 Yellowstone and Powder Rivers; but when the main body of the nation 

 was " out", only the old bucks and squaws, with the papooses, being left 

 to draw the stipulated rations, and procure ammunition at the Agencies, 

 which thereby became a convenient base of supplies, the tribes roamed 

 at will through nearly all parts of iSTebraska, Wyoming, Montana, and 



